PENGUINS RALLY PAST CANUCKS TO SURVIVE BACK-AND-FORTH, 14-GOAL AFFAIR
On a night that witnessed the Penguins and Canucks alternate 2-0 and 6-3 leads, respectively, Evgeni Malkin (2-3—5) capped Pittsburgh’s six-goal third period with the NHL’s seventh five-point performance of 2019-20.

* The Penguins registered the 11th three-goal, third-period comeback win in franchise history and the second this season (also: Nov. 7 at NYI). Pittsburgh has accomplished the feat multiple times in a single season on one other occasion in their history: 2008-09, en route to their third Stanley Cup.

* The frantic third period at PPG Paints Arena Wednesday marked the second game of 2019-20 in which two teams have combined for eight goals in a single period. The other: Nashville and Colorado, doing so in the second period on Nov. 7.

* Pittsburgh’s eight-goal outing came a day after Boston also did so in Montreal. The NHL last featured consecutive nights with at least one team scoring eight goals on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, 2017, when Edmonton and Detroit each accomplished the feat, respectively.

* Malkin joined Connor McDavid (2x), Brad Marchand (2x), David Pastrnak and Leon Draisaitl as the fifth player to collect five points in a game this season. In fact, he leads the League in five-point performances since his NHL debut in 2006-07 – two more than the next highest players: Sidney Crosby (6) and Marchand (6).

* Malkin has averaged 1.35 points per game without Crosby in the Penguins lineup, totaling 70-103—173 in 128 GP – highlighted by 4-9—13 in Pittsburgh's last eight contests without its captain. Only McDavid (7-10—17 in 8 GP) and Draisaitl (2-12—14) have collected more points since Nov. 12.

YOUTHFUL DEFENSEMEN SHINE IN PITTSBURGH . . .

Twenty-year-old Quinn Hughes (0-3—3) and 22-year-old John Marino (0-2—2) each recorded multi-point outings in the 14-goal affair in Pittsburgh to continue their recent strings of success.

* Hughes boosted his season totals to 2-19—21 in 25 GP and joined Cale Makar (7-18—25) as the second rookie to collect at least 20 points this season. The 2019-20 campaign is the first in NHL history to feature defensemen as the first two rookies to reach the 20-point mark.

* The seventh-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft is the first rookie defenseman in Canucks history to record three games with three assists in a single season (also Oct. 30 at LAK and Nov. 21 at NSH). Only one rookie blueliner in NHL history has registered more such performances in an entire campaign.

* Marino, traded to Pittsburgh from Edmonton on July 26, has recorded at least a point in each of his last six games (1-6—7). He eclipsed Columbus’ Emil Bemstrom, Chicago’s Kirby Dach, New York’s Adam Fox, Colorado’s Makar and Victor Olofsson (all w/ 5) for the longest point streak by a rookie this season.

* Only one rookie defenseman in Penguins history has recorded a longer point streak with the franchise: Randy Boyd (7 GP in 1982-83).

. . . WHILE VETERAN CHARA LIFTS BRUINS IN OTTAWA

Zdeno Chara scored the go-ahead goal in the third period to help the Bruins (17-3-5, 39 points) extend their point streak to nine contests. The Bruins captain, who netted his second game-winning goal of the season (also Oct. 27), became the first defenseman in NHL history age 42 or older to register multiple such tallies in a single season.

* With points in each of his last four contests, Chara (42 years, 248 days) became the oldest defensemen in NHL history to record a four-game point streak (age at start of streak), eclipsing the previous mark held by Chris Chelios in 2003-04 with Detroit (42 years, 62 days).

* Boston, which extended its point streak to nine contests (6-0-3), is tied with Washington (17-4-5, 29 points) for the most points in the NHL this season. Meanwhile, the Bruins’ 39 points through their first 25 games trail only the 1929-30 campaign (21-4-0, 42 points) for the most in franchise history through that span.

KEEFE’S LEAFS SCORE SIX IN WIN OVER RED WINGS

For the second time in as many nights, an Original Six matchup featured the winning team score six or more goals, after the Bruins defeated the Canadiens 8-1 Tuesday.

* Toronto scored six or more goals in a regular-season game in Detroit for the first time since March 4, 1994. Only three of eleven Maple Leafs players on Wednesday’s score sheet were born when they last achieved the feat (Tyson Barrie, John Tavares and Jason Spezza).

* Barrie (1-1—2) recorded his second consecutive multi-point game – on the heels of posting 0-5—5 in his first 21 contests – to extend his point streak to five outings (3-4—7). Should Barrie find the score sheet Friday, he will become the first blueliner in franchise history to record a point in each game of a road trip of six or more contests.

* The 28-year-old also became the first defenseman in franchise history to score a goal in three consecutive team games, all on the road. Florida’s Aaron Ekblad is the only NHL defenseman to do so since 2013-14.

* The Maple Leafs registered 42 shots through the first 40 minutes of Wednesday’s contest. It marked the fourth instance in which the club recorded 40 or more shots in a game entering the second intermission (since 1965-66 when shots in a period officially began being tracked).

* Sheldon Keefe became the first head coach in Maple Leafs history to win each of his first three career games.

PACIORETTY SPARKS GOLDEN KNIGHTS WITH LATE GAME-TYING GOAL

After the Golden Knights allowed three straight and surrendered a 2-0 lead, Max Pacioretty scored the game-tying goal with 0.3 seconds remaining in regulation to set the stage for Paul Stastny’s overtime goal.

* Pacioretty recorded the latest game-tying tally by a Golden Knights player (59:59), surpassing Erik Haula’s previous mark on Dec. 8, 2017 (59:20) - also against the Predators. It was the NHL’s 13th game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation this season and the latest by any player.

* Stastny’s overtime goal was the 700th point of his NHL career (241-459—700 in 901 GP). Paul joined his father Peter Stastny (450-789—1,239 in 977 GP) as just the third father-son duo in NHL history to each record at least 700 career regular-season points. The others: Gordie Howe (801-1,049—1,850 in 1,767 GP) and Mark Howe (197-545—742 in 929 GP), as well as Bobby Hull (610-560—1,170 in 1,063 GP) and Brett Hull (741-650—1,391 in 1,269 GP).

AROUND THE RINKS

* Defensemen Brendan Smith, Ryan Lindgren and Tony DeAngelo combined on the Rangers game-tying goal to propel New York to its third straight win. The last time three players, listed as defensemen, combined for a Rangers goal was Nov. 9, 1985, when Barry Beck, Tom Laidlaw and Reijo Ruotsalainen did so.

* St. Louis was one of 10 teams to register a comeback win on Wednesday night. It marked the fourth day in NHL history with at least 10 such victories. The others: Oct. 29, 2005 (11), Dec. 23, 2005 (10) and March 23, 2017 (10).

* The Jets scored five unanswered goals to erase an early one-goal deficit and earn their 10th comeback win of 2019-20, tied with the Blues for the most by any team this season.

QUICK CLICKS

* Jonathan Marchessault gets left 'Home Alone' in Golden Knights video

* 2020 Draft: Braden Schneider focused on improving offensive numbers

* Game day routine crucial for coaches, player

* Five Questions with Official Kerry Fraser

* Elvis Merzlikins tosses puck to girl who was seeking gift for boys

PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION